www.iFourWinns.com

I went to the Overland Park, KS (suburb of KCMO) Boat Show over the weekend. Took a pretty close look at the new Horizon 260. Didn't really seem all that impressive as far as "new" features go. So far as I could tell, the only differences in this year's model and the 2007's was that there is now

a Sony stereo replacing the Clarion
a hinged ski arch available
under swim platform lighting
new trailer features, including straps/tie downs and LED lighting

Is this all that changed this year? Anyone else see anything I missed?

_________________
Paul
2007 Four Winns Horizon 220
Mercruiser 350 Mag MPI w/ Bravo III Drive
2004 Ford Explorer Limited (V8-AWD)
Pomme de Terre Lake (Southwest Missouri)

On the bigger Horizon boats, the changes were a bit fewer... some immediate things come to mind:

Standard Trailer improvements:
1) Oil Bath bearings
2) Boat buckle straps
3) LED lights

New trailer option: Gatorhyde upgrade for about 160 bucks over the standard (not galvy trailer).


On the boats themselves:

1) Things like pop up cleats/bow scuff plate are now standard
2) Radio is now Sony based rather than Clarion
3) Under platform LED lighting
4) Arch is now hinged (but, this doesn't really do much of anything from the old one, unless you store it every winter)
5) Tri Tone graphics available
6) At least the 5.7 GXI motor has a standard flush kit and a new style of cartridge oil filter for remote access.
7) The old 280hp 5.7 volvo is now rated at 300hp.
Hard top for the arch is now available
9) Flag Pole and holder are now available


I'm sure there are some minor improvements to construction as well... but these are the most obvious things I have found different.

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2008 318 Vista -SOLD, but I am still around!
All Night Long, Seattle WA

I went to the Bartle Hall (KC) sports show a few weeks ago, and didn't see anything eye catching that I didn't have. They had the H210 Frenzy Edition, which had some of the bells and whistles of the SS without the low-profile windshield. I did see lighted cup-holders available from a local dealer (KC Marine), and will probably get some around Memorial Day Weekend. At $30 each, I need to justify them before buying and installing. I didn't see anything new that I didn't "need" to have though.
Paul......The hinged arch... are you talking about the tower like I have, or is this something new and different?

_________________
Walt B
"Debt-Charged"
Black '07 H210SS
6.2L Bravo One turning a 21P HIFive
Wakeboard Tower with Perfect Pass Stargazer version
Missouri River; Kansas City, Mo.

Lighted cup holders?

_________________


Mike
2005 Four Winns 230/240
VP 5.7GXi/DP
1998 F-150 XLT
Boat Pic

Uh huh. This is similar to the ones I saw....
http://www.shopwhitelake.com/ledcupholders.html

After all, what good is going out at night if you can't find your drink?

_________________
Walt B
"Debt-Charged"
Black '07 H210SS
6.2L Bravo One turning a 21P HIFive
Wakeboard Tower with Perfect Pass Stargazer version
Missouri River; Kansas City, Mo.

All stop!

Chief of the boat, see to those dead batteries in the forward cup holders immediately!

I'll be leaving now, I've seen everything .

They're probably cool in person, but... ?

Maybe I should limit my complaints to the oil bath hubs .

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Mike
2005 Four Winns 230/240
VP 5.7GXi/DP
1998 F-150 XLT
Boat Pic

Mike,
These did look cool in person. I'm thinking Electric Blue would be eye catching at night. As I am told, they were wired, and not battery powered as the ones I found on-line are; so I can wire them to any switch or source I choose. If and when I do, you can count on some pic's. I do love to cruise at night, and the subtle light just looks perfect for the task.


As far as Oil Bath Hubs.... Uh, I think I have those, but not even sure (sounds bad, don't it?). I will be tracking any issues I can with them. FYI My job involves identifying bearing failures, and correcting. I plan on bringing my "tools of the trade" home to check the wheels when I can.

_________________
Walt B
"Debt-Charged"
Black '07 H210SS
6.2L Bravo One turning a 21P HIFive
Wakeboard Tower with Perfect Pass Stargazer version
Missouri River; Kansas City, Mo.

Well now the cup holders, wired in so that you aren't fighting batteries all the time, and easily removable & disconnectable for cleaning, could be cool.

I think oil bath hubs are the future, but we may go through some pain getting there. And I still think they're a solution in search of a problem.

_________________


Mike
2005 Four Winns 230/240
VP 5.7GXi/DP
1998 F-150 XLT
Boat Pic

I'm pretty sure it is both the tower and the arch that are hinged this year. Could be wrong on the arch, though, so I'll have to double check that.

Lighted cup holders that are switched would be pretty cool. Might have to look into finding a way to use my current ones in a setup that would allow that.

_________________
Paul
2007 Four Winns Horizon 220
Mercruiser 350 Mag MPI w/ Bravo III Drive
2004 Ford Explorer Limited (V8-AWD)
Pomme de Terre Lake (Southwest Missouri)

I think the tower has always had a hinge setup on it of some sort... The arch is now hinged... not that it wasn't before - you just removed 2 mounting bolts. But now, you remove the two front ones and the front arms will swing out and you can actually rest the arms on the mount and the arch lays down without hitting the windshield brackets. My 240 has the new arch tower.

Honestly, I don't see it as very useful... it's not quick release and there isn't a way to secure it easily.

As for lighting the cup holders, you could put some LED pods like they make for motorcycles to shine down on the aluminum cup holders... or maybe drill in some flush mount LED's... Totally up to the imagination for that one.

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2008 318 Vista -SOLD, but I am still around!
All Night Long, Seattle WA

The towers have been hinged on the front at least back to '05. I didn't see much point in it, though - unless the design has changed (and it might have), it takes two people to drop it or raise it, and when lowered it isn't much lower than just leaving it up since the rear legs stick up.

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Mike
2005 Four Winns 230/240
VP 5.7GXi/DP
1998 F-150 XLT
Boat Pic

I tried putting mine down just for a clearence issue, and didn't care for it. It did drop down nicely, and the lower portion of the rear legs do fold down, so the overall height isn't much more than without the tower. The thing I didn't like was where it came down to. There was no practical way to keep it from pushing down on my bow cover, thus creating a "pooling" spot for water and snow. Maybe I should solve that problem, submit my solution to FW, and request lighted cupholders as payment.

I did look around at other ideas for lighting my cup holders, including putting LEDs in the bottom, but nothing I thought was as eye catching as those I say at the sports show.

Mike/Paul.... They are available at KC Marine in Lee's Summit, but I haven't found out colors or other specifics. My sister and her hubby plan on getting a set for thier tooner. We do spend lot's of time out at night, and that would just be mezmerizing.

_________________
Walt B
"Debt-Charged"
Black '07 H210SS
6.2L Bravo One turning a 21P HIFive
Wakeboard Tower with Perfect Pass Stargazer version
Missouri River; Kansas City, Mo.

Thanks for the heads up Walt! Now, what we really need is LED oil bath hubs. With spinners.

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Mike
2005 Four Winns 230/240
VP 5.7GXi/DP
1998 F-150 XLT
Boat Pic

Well Mike, ask and....uh
I just haven't been able to integrate the cup holder yet.

http://www.pistonheads.com/news/default.asp?storyId=17111

_________________
Walt B
"Debt-Charged"
Black '07 H210SS
6.2L Bravo One turning a 21P HIFive
Wakeboard Tower with Perfect Pass Stargazer version
Missouri River; Kansas City, Mo.

Yo.

_________________


Mike
2005 Four Winns 230/240
VP 5.7GXi/DP
1998 F-150 XLT
Boat Pic